Monday, 2 July 2012

The Terrafugia Transition flying car is closer to becoming a real road-going reality. The Transition finished its first round of Federal Aviation Administration certification flight tests (there are five more rounds to go) at Plattsburgh International Airport in New York, and is headed for on-road drive testing.

The prototype is also going through a range of drive testing. The Transition is designed in part to give travelers the option of flying or driving to their destinations, depending on conditions. The craft’s wings fold and tuck in next to the fuselage when on the road.

Terrafugia said it continues to accept deposits from prospective customers, and expects the vehicle’s base price to be about $279,000 when it begins deliveries in a year or two. The price and planned delivery date has changed a number of times in the past two years, which is not surprising or unusual for a small company developing a new passenger vehicle.

The Transition was previously expected to cost less than $200,000 and deliveries were to begin by the end of this year.